Get off to a safe start

The Internet offers so many opportunities to explore, create and collaborate. And
to make the most of the web, it’s important to keep yourself safe and secure.
Whether you’re a new Internet user or an expert, the advice and tools here can
help you navigate the web safely and securely.

Secure your passwords

Learn more about how to create strong passwords and keep your information
safe.

Make your Google Account even more secure

You can add an extra layer of security to your Google Account by
enabling 2-step verification. If you have 2-step verification turned
on, Google will send a passcode to your mobile phone when someone tries
to sign into your account from an unfamiliar computer. This means that
if someone steals or guesses your password, the potential attacker
still can’t sign in to your account because they don’t have your phone.
Now you can protect yourself with something you know (your password)
and something you have (your phone).

Access your settings by clicking your name or picture in the right
corner then clicking Account.

At the top, click Security. In the Password box, click Setup next
to “2-Step verification.”

You will then see a step-by-step guide which will help you through
the setup process.

You’ll then be taken back to 2-step verification settings. Review
your settings and add backup phone numbers.

You’re done! Next time you sign in, you’ll receive an SMS with a
verification code.

Browse the web in private

You can use Incognito Mode in the Chrome browser on your computer,
tablet, or phone to browse the web privately. In Incognito Mode, the
pages you visit and files you download aren’t recorded in Chrome’s
browsing or download history.

Your Google Account, your way

Access settings by clicking your name or picture in the right
corner, then clicking Account.

Get an alert if your name appears on the web

Me on the Web can help you understand and manage what people see when
they search for you on Google. It helps you set up Google Alerts so you
can monitor if information about you appears online, and it
automatically suggests some search terms you may want to keep an eye
on.

Sign in to your Google Account and navigate to the “Me on the Web”
section.

Click Manage my Web Alerts, and then click the red button to create
an alert.

Your name will show up in the text field. Click the text field to
view more suggested alerts.

Click Add to add an alert. Click the pencil icon to make edits, and
the trash can icon to delete.

In the “How often” drop-down, choose the frequency of alerts.

Manage the data stored in your Google Account

Google Dashboard shows you what's stored in your Google Account and
provides an overview of some of your recent account activity. From one
central location, you can easily view your data and activity and access
your settings for services such as Blogger, Calendar, Docs, Google+ and
more.